Arkadi Gaydamak (also known as Arcadi Aleksandrovich Gaydamak, 1952-2023) was a prominent Russian-born French-Israeli businessman, politician, and philanthropist with multiple nationalities including French, Israeli, Russian, Canadian, and an Angolan diplomatic passport. Born on April 8, 1952, in the Soviet Union, he rose to prominence in the 1990s through international business dealings spanning arms trading, oil trading, mining, and defense, with his net worth estimated between $700 million and $4 billion USD in 2007. He was awarded the French Ordre national du Mérite and the Ordre du Mérite agricole for his role in rescuing French personnel during the Bosnian War. Gaydamak served as President of the Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations of Russia (KEROOR) and was involved in various philanthropic activities, particularly in supporting Jewish communities. In Israel, he entered politics in the mid-2000s, founding the Social Justice Party in 2007, winning a seat on the Jerusalem City Council, and positioning himself as a champion for the underprivileged by providing aid during the 2006 Lebanon War and establishing welfare programs. His career was marked by both significant philanthropy and controversy, including allegations of arms dealing and money laundering, with his 2009 arrest in France on charges related to illegal arms sales to Angola in the 1990s (though he was later acquitted in some cases). His influence extended to media and sports, most notably as owner of the Beitar Jerusalem football club from 2005 to 2008. Gaydamak passed away in 2023, leaving a complex legacy as both a benefactor and a figure of legal scrutiny, with activities bridging Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.